The Bombay High Court made a passing remark about the challenges faced by district and subordinate court judges working in remote areas, mentioning that some judges even have to hold court while tigers roam nearby. The Court's observation came during a hearing on a case concerning Anganwadi workers in such remote regions. The Court directed the Central and State governments to ensure that proper mobile handsets are provided to Anganwadi workers in remote areas of Maharashtra within three months. These handsets would enable the workers to enter data into the POSHAN tracker app, which tracks activities of Anganwadi centers nationwide.
Senior advocate Gayatri Singh expressed concerns about delivering handsets to Anganwadi workers in rural and remote regions, particularly in districts like Gadchiroli. Recognizing the difficulties, the division bench of Justices GS Patel and Gauri Godse asked the State government to ensure prompt distribution of the handsets. The Court added that some judicial officers even have to work in the presence of tigers in those areas.
The Anganwadi workers had approached the Court after facing action from the State government for not feeding data into the app. They claimed they were given old and non-functional handsets, making it impossible for them to enter data. The Court instructed the State to provide functional devices to the workers.
The State informed the Court that it would distribute the handsets through vendors, but the Court expressed skepticism about this approach. Justice Patel recalled an incident where vendors failed to deliver power backup to judicial officers in remote districts due to transportation challenges. The bench suggested involving Child Development Project Officers (CDPO) in the handset distribution process.
The Court warned against stopping the procurement, sampling, and distribution of handsets due to lack of funds and urged the Central government to prioritize the matter. It ordered that the State should proceed with the process, regardless of non-receipt of funds from the Centre. The Court clarified that the State would be allowed reimbursement of up to 60% of the funds infused on behalf of the Centre.
The Court emphasized that the handsets are necessary for the ultimate beneficiaries, the mothers and children, as they enable financial support to reach them. The primary objective is to ensure assistance to the beneficiaries, and procedural requirements should not hinder this process.
TAGS: Bombay High Court district and subordinate court judges remote areas tigers Anganwadi workers mobile handsets Maharashtra data entry POSHAN tracker app senior advocate rural regions Gadchiroli Central government State government distribution vendors Child Development Project Officers (CDPO) procurement sampling funds reimbursement beneficiaries mothers children.
